GCUC Podcast - Dr. Felicia Fai

GCUC Podcast - Dr. Felicia Fai

What does research actually say about coworking spaces — and why should policymakers care? In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, host Liz Elam sits down with Dr. Felicia Fai, Associate Professor in Innovation and Regional Resilience at the University of Bath School of Management, and one of the few academics dedicated to studying what coworking spaces truly do for entrepreneurs, communities, and regional economies. Felicia's work shines a light on independent operators outside major cities — the spaces quietly having an enormous impact while rarely making headlines. Together, Liz and Felicia dig into why coworking spaces are so much more than just real estate, how the UK compares with Ireland in terms of policy support for flex spaces, and what the industry desperately needs if it wants policymakers to take notice. They cover: * How Felicia's research journey led her from corporate resilience to coworking * Why the lack of hard data is the industry's biggest vulnerability * The case for coworking spaces as "activist organizations" and place-shapers * What's missing in UK policy — and what Ireland is doing right * The one thing the industry could do today to help researchers (and itself) * Industry life cycles, the coming "shakeout," and what operators need to survive it Whether you're running a space, building community, or making the case to a local council, this episode gives you the research-backed language to tell a bigger story.   Connect with Dr. Felicia Fai:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-fai-991602/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-fai-991602/] Connect with Liz Elam:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam] Learn more about GCUC & get your tickets for GCUC UK:  https://uk.gcuc.co/ [https://uk.gcuc.co/]   GCUC Events https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/ [https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/]   Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos]

GCUC Podcast - Ben Newton, Patch Operations Director

What really makes a coworking space unforgettable? According to Ben Newton, it’s not just the design, the coffee, or the amenities; it’s the people, the systems, and the intentional operations happening behind the scenes every single day. In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, host Liz Elam sits down with Ben Newton, Operations Director at Patch, to unpack what truly drives exceptional coworking experiences. From building hospitality first workspaces and protecting team mental health to creating stronger local communities and rethinking the future of regional flex space, Ben shares a refreshingly honest look at the realities of modern operations. They also dive into why coworking is really a hospitality business in disguise, the hidden burnout risks for community teams, how hybrid work is reshaping regional coworking, the loneliness epidemic and why coworking can help solve it, Ben’s collaborative OpenOps Project for coworking benchmarking, and leadership lessons on patience, listening, and scaling culture without losing the human touch. If you care about the future of work, community, hospitality, or building spaces people genuinely want to be in, this conversation is packed with insight, heart, and practical wisdom. Listen & Connect Connect with Ben Newton https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-newton-24520092/ Learn more about Patch: https://www.patch.work/ Learn more about the OpenOps Project: https://theopenopsproject.netlify.app/   Connect with Liz Elam https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam GCUC Events https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/ Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos

GCUC Podcast - Sam Rosen of Yardi & Kane Willmot from IQ Offices

What really happens inside the room at GCUC?    If you've been, you know the magic isn't just on the stage, it's in the hallway conversations, the shared struggles, and the collective drive to build something bigger than any one operator.   In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on our massive 50th event in New York City, and we're doing it with two leaders who experienced it from completely different angles.   First up, we have Sam Rosen, Industry Principal at Yardi. Yardi has become an absolute force in the flex and coworking space, and Sam is at the center of it — helping this industry understand itself like never before through real-time data, the groundbreaking new Coworking Index (launched at GCUC), and tools that are genuinely moving the needle for operators everywhere. If you're not paying attention to what Yardi is building, you need to be.   Alongside Sam is Kane Willmott, co-CEO of IQ Offices. Kane brings that sharp, boots-on-the-ground operator's lens to tell us what's actually working — and what's absolutely not — across markets, teams, and customers right now.   Together, we unpack the real conversations happening beneath the surface at GCUC 50. We're talking AI, investment, shifting customer expectations, and the undeniable rise of landlord-led flex space.   We’re digging into what's changed, what's next, and why this community is stronger than ever. From post-COVID resilience to the future of coworking growth, this episode is a candid, energizing look at exactly where the industry stands today and where we are headed next. Grab a coffee and tune in!   Like and follow for more juicy chats and join us in Manchester in June!!  Listen & Connect Connect with Sam Rosen https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammyrosen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammyrosen/] Coworking Index  [https://www.coworkingcafe.com/index/] Connect with Kane Willmot https://www.linkedin.com/in/kane-willmott/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kane-willmott/]  Connect with Liz Elam https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam] GCUC Events https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/ [https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/] Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos]

GCUC Podcast - Adam Walker, CEO & Co-founder of Foundry

What does it take to build world-class coworking outside of a major city center? In this episode, Liz Elam sits down with Adam Walker, CEO and co-founder of Foundry, to find out.   Adam is one of the most exciting operators in the UK coworking scene. Growing up surrounded by pubs and community clubs, he watched the traditional pillars of local community disappear, and decided to build something new in their place. Foundry now operates six premium, purpose-led coworking spaces in regional and suburban UK markets, with another six to seven locations set to launch in 2026.   In this conversation, Adam and Liz cover the origin story of Foundry, the strategy for bringing central London-quality workspace to local high streets, and the creative model of embedding coworking in built-to-rent residential developments. They also dig into the state of investment in the flex space industry, why better data is finally unlocking institutional capital, and why the coworking industry has a unique opportunity — and responsibility, to lead the way on member mental health.   This episode dropped the morning of GCUC in New York, and Adam was on stage that same day to help kick off what could be a defining moment for mental health in our industry.   If you are an operator, investor, or community builder who cares about where coworking is headed, this one is not to be missed.   Learn more about https://www.foundryuk.com [https://www.foundryuk.com] Connect with Adam  https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-r-walker/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-r-walker/] Connect with Liz Elam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam] Learn more about GCUC & get your tickets for GCUC North America: https://na.gcuc.co/ [https://na.gcuc.co/] Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos]

GCUC Podcast - Angel Kwiatkowski, Founder of Cohere

Meet Angel Kwiatkowski, a true original in coworking and the unapologetic force behind Cohere in Fort Collins. For over 15 years, Angel has been quietly and sometimes loudly redefining what community actually means, ditching scale, rejecting sameness, and building a space where connection is not a feature, it is the whole point. From buying her building to designing “unscalable on purpose” communities, Angel proves that smaller, scrappier, and more human might just be the future.   Liz Elam, founder of GCUC and longtime champion of the coworking movement, jumps in for a candid, no-BS conversation that pulls no punches. Together, they go head-to-head on hospitality versus community, unpack the loneliness epidemic, and share hard-won lessons from building spaces that truly matter.   This episode is equal parts philosophy, practicality, and playful debate, covering everything from friendship as a KPI to why alcohol on tap might be the worst perk in coworking.   If you care about community, connection, and the future of work and are not afraid of a little friendly sparring, this one is for you. Learn more about Cohere https://coherecommunity.com/ [https://coherecommunity.com/]   Connect with Angel https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelkwiatkowski/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelkwiatkowski/] Connect with Liz Elam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam] Learn more about GCUC & get your tickets for GCUC North America: https://na.gcuc.co/ [https://na.gcuc.co/] Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos]